That same night, Bella allowed herself to be immersed by the heat. With Leah and Seth devastated at their parents betrayal, they had decided to crash in Bella's bedroom. And since Jacob had his duties to attend to, he probably wouldn't be crawling through her bedroom window any time soon.

Glancing at the window, she shivered. Edwards golden eyes passing through her mind. She had been avoiding him all week and she had sent a text telling him she would see him at school and that he was not to pick her up. She could drive herself.

That was something she appreciated about Jacob. He let her be her.

So, what now? Well, she had no idea. Jacob said he had a plan, and he would talk to her about it as soon as he could get away.

But what plan could that possibly be? How was he going to prevent a marriage between he and Leah? His tribe was expecting it.

Looking over, Bella stared at the dry tear trails still on Leah's face. Her heart went out to the she wolf. Her whole life had been told on a lie.

With a shake of her head, Bella silently crawled over the tangle of limps and creep down the stairs. She was grateful Charlie had been too drunk to check in on her bedroom because he certainly wouldn't have approved of Seth sleeping in her bed, but whatever. Leah and Seth needed someone they trusted right now and to her surprise, she was it.

Bella groaned as she made herself a cup of hot chocolate. Sleep seemed to escape her tonight.

In such a short amount of time she and Jacob had gone from 0 to 100 and she honestly didn't mind.

Her heart warmed at the thought of him, especially the way he took care of his nephews. He would make a great father someday. The very thought made her think back to the few hours she got to spend with the infants.

Flashback:

Bella discreetly held Jacob's hand as they crept through his back door. The gathering had died down by now and very few people were around. After the shocking news of what the elders had planned, Jacob knew that they needed a few minutes to themselves.

"wont the rest of the pack hear us?" she asked as he led her to his sisters old room.

Jacob chuckled and said "im the blood born alpha Bells, I let the pack hear and see what they want."

It took a minute for Bella to comprehend what he was saying? Did Jacob really have that much power? And why hadn't Sam?

It was because Jacob was the true alpha and Sam was not.

"alright, here we are." Jacob cooed as he led her to an old looking mobile crib. She was grateful they went and bought two separate ones. Jacob told her he would put it all together before bed tonight.

"Bella, meet Solomon junior and Gabe."

"Gabe?" she questioned as Jacob gently lifted each twin into his arms. They could pass for Jacob's biological children. They both had dark black hair and dark brown skin the only difference were the eyes. Junior had green eyes while Gabe had the family's brown ones.

"That's Rebecca for ya." Jacob said bitterly.

"has she called?" she asked as Jacob put Gabe in her arms. He was so tiny; she was afraid to move.

"not one damn word. No letter, no phone call, not even are post card. But its always been this way. Even when mom was alive. The twins only care for themselves. More Rebecca then Rachel. Rachel's individuality was overshadowed by Rebecca's dominant personality so Rachel never got room to grow. Except for now. She is at college living her life. I wont put this responsibility on her."

"but how is that fair to you jake? Your sisters, they have done nothing but run from responsibility, what about you? Why do you get the short end of the stick. So instead of just a sick father to take care of and a pack, now you have two infants who need you. Its not fair."

"life isn't fair bells. It never has been. And don't get me started on selfish family members because I remember someone with a flighty mother who would make her only daughter move in the middle of the school year which would make you fall behind. I never forgot the phone calls when you called me from phoenix about Renee's selfishness. And to top it off as much as I respect Charlie, he was lazy and sometimes still is. He could have made more of an effort and he's trying to make up for it."

Bella sighed as she rocked the now-sleeping infant.

"I just don't see why you can't be happy?" she whispered.

"Honey, my life isn't perfect, and I do have a lot to do but having you in it makes up for it all."

End flashback

Bella felt herself wiping stray tears as she thought about his words. She and Jacob could have been a lot farther in life if she hadn't been so caught up in the Cullen's. She loved them she did, but it wasn't fair for her to stick with one group of people only. She still had other friends and other commitments. She couldn't throw it down the drain just because someone tried to convince her too.

Just as she was about to stand, a quiet knock sounded on the door. It was 2 am. Who was the heck knocking on her door this late?

With caution, she looked out the peep hole and felt her heart skip a beat.

"jake…" she whispered. Opening the door.

"hey honey. I can't stay. I don't want the boys waking up dad. Seth and Leah are upstairs, right?"

"yes." She said as she wrapped her arms around his waist burying her head in his chest.

"Good, don't need any creeps crawling through your window." He joked.

"aren't you tired "she asked.

"exhausted. I just finished doing a last-minute patrol. I needed to think. And I came up with the perfect idea, but I want your opinion."

"what's up?"

"would it be too soon, if you became Mrs. black tonight?"

Jacob watched as the love of his life processed the question.

"you mean like marry you? Tonight? Or like tomorrow tonight?" she asked surprise displaying on her face.

"I mean like right now? I have connections on speed dial" he clarified.

"I..I..I have no objections to marry you, I just didn't think it would be this early."

"I know and I didn't want it to happen like this, but we need to catch the elders off guard and the only way to do it is to have us married. That way, they cant marry me off to whoever. "he explained.

"but… what about Leah? Lets say you and I do get married… don't… dont they still have control over her life? What if they just marry her off to someone else? And what if they don't recognize our marriage as valid?"

Jacob held her face in his hands as he thought about her concerns. She did have a point.

"well, I was thinking. Tomorrow is the day they are supposed to tell me who I am marrying. Leah and I can play the dutiful engaged couple until the transition ceremony. And they can't break up two marriages if they're legal."

"wait, two marriages? what do you mean?"

Jacob sighed as he began to explain the next parts of the plan.

"Well, I was thinking, and she is going to hate me. But I was thinking that Leah could get married tonight too. She stays married until after the transition ceremony where she and I reveal that we have chosen our own spouses and then the next day she can have it annulled."

"but that's if she agrees to that. And lets say she did who the world would she marry?"

Jacob smiled.

"I have the perfect guy. But I need any answer honey? What do you want to do?"

"Jacob, there's no question about it, I will marry you right here on this doorstep if I have to."

Relief filled the eighteen-year-olds body.

"im glad honey. Now I couldn't do this alone. So, I figured we could get some extra help."

"who?"

With a low whistle.

A familiar and yet shocking face made their way to Bella's doorstep. "Hello, sweetheart."

"Esme!"